Best heavy duty cases for iPhone 7

Breaking a brand new phone is the worst, and you don't want anything to happen to your beautiful iPhone 7. If you're prone to dropping your phone or just want to be extra safe, take a look at these great heavy duty cases.

Supcase Unicorn Beetle PRO series

Why you can trust iMore Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

The Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro series has everything you need in a heavy duty case and will cost you about $20. A hard polycarbonate shell protects all sides and edges of the iPhone 7, and a built-in screen protector and dust covers protect the Lightning port.

The case easily snaps into a belt clip that attaches to the back of the phone. Now wearing your phone on your waist isn't everyone's cup of tea; however, the option of having easy access to your phone, right at your hip, is super useful.

It comes in a wide array of colors such as blue, green, pink, black, and white, so you should have no problem finding the perfect hue for you.

See at Amazon (opens in new tab)

Otterbox Defender series

Otterbox Defender series

Otterbox is a household name when it comes to heavy duty cases, and its Defender series is the toughest offered.

The Defender series has a four-layer protection system to keep your iPhone 7 safe and sound. It has a built-in screen protector to prevent your screen from being scratched, a buffer made out of foam to ensure your screen protector never rubs against the glass, an inner shock-absorbing shell that protects the rest of the phone from damage, and a hard outer slipcover that seals up the Lightning port to prevent dust and dirt from getting inside.

Otterbox rigorously tests all of their cases with drop tests and tumble tests, allowing you to rest easy knowing your iPhone 7 won't be harmed should harm befall it. That protection doesn't come cheap though, the Otterbox Defender series will cost you $50.

See at Otterbox (opens in new tab)

Spigen Slim Armor

Spigen's Slim Armor may not have a screen protector, but with the edges of the case protruding at least 2mm above the screen, it will still protect the glass on flat surfaces and from falling screen-side-down. On top of that, the camera also has lots of protection from table scratches, thanks to the high edges of the case as well.

Spigen's Slim Armor is certified military grade drop-tested. I know that sounds like some random label that a company would stick on its packaging just to sell the product, but in this case, it means something. It means that testing was conducted by a third party, and the quality is approved for use in the military.

The added feature of a metal kickstand, which allows you to prop the phone up (ideal for watching videos) is just the icing on the cake.

You can pick up a Spigen Slim Armor in a bunch aof different colors all starting around $30.

See at Amazon (opens in new tab)

UAG Monarch Feather-Light

UAG's Monarch Feather Light case for the iPhone 7 is a little lighter and less bulky than the other cases here, but nevertheless, it still offers military grade impact protection.

The Big, grippy buttons provide unobstructed access to all of the iPhone's usual functions, and the Lightning port remains open for easy use.

There's almost an unfathomable amount of colors to choose from, so whether you want something subtle or bold, you can't go wrong. It isn't the cheapest option, usually retails for about $60; however, I have seen it on sale for as low as $49, so keep your eyes peeled.

See at Amazon (opens in new tab)

Ringke Max

If you're looking for style and protection, the Ringke Max has you covered all for about $35.

Made in two parts, the Ringke Max offers you excellent shock-absorbing protection with its TPU sleeve and great scratch protection with its hard polycarbonate shell. It also has extra-protected corners, which help prevent your iPhone's screen from spider-webbing if you drop it on a corner.

An added bonus of the Ringke Max is it doesn't sacrifice style for protection. There is no beating around the bush; this case looks cool!

See at Amazon (opens in new tab)

What will you use?

Do you have a go-to heavy duty case for every iPhone that you think deserves a mention? Let us know in the comments below!

Updated September 2017: If you want the strongest protection you can find, these are still our favorite picks to prevent damage to your iPhone 7.

Luke Filipowicz
Staff Writer

Luke Filipowicz has been a writer at iMore, covering Apple for nearly a decade now. He writes a lot about Apple Watch and iPad but covers the iPhone and Mac as well. He often describes himself as an "Apple user on a budget" and firmly believes that great technology can be affordable if you know where to look. Luke also heads up the iMore Show — a weekly podcast focusing on Apple news, rumors, and products but likes to have some fun along the way. 


Luke knows he spends more time on Twitter than he probably should, so feel free to follow him or give him a shout on social media @LukeFilipowicz.

5 Comments
  • +1 for the UAG case and the other models made by them. I had UAG cases on my iPhone's 5 and 6 and they stood the test of time while being relatively inexpensive (I paid less than $25 for both of mine). They have a MIL-STD rating for drop protection which does mean something (as opposed to MIL SPEC which tends to be nebulous and marketing speak).
  • I've used otterboxes for iPhone 6,5,4. However I switched to the plus version with the 6s plus. I thought it was a little too bulky. I'm going to try the Otterbox for the 7 plus. I'll see how it goes.
  • I do driving/delivery all day so I want a heavy duty case with holster. I've tried the Otterbox Defender and while it will protect the phone, I don't like the screen protector. The home button film is lousy and the screen cover loses sensitivity of touch. Don't know if Otterbox has changed this. The horizontal clip holster is not my preference, I prefer vertical.
    My favorite and best performing heavy duty case is the Seidio Convert. I've used this case for my last 3 phones. It has handled many drops on concrete with no damage (ever) to my phones. Unfortunately they are always a month or 2 behind release so I use a make do like the Supcase. They have worked ok but aren't as comfortable in the hand as the Seidio.
  • I would go for the first one, the harder the better. Isaiah Heart.
  • Rhinoshield.......